Democrats and Republicans react to Biden’s choice of Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate

(KION) Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden announced his pick for a running mate today- California Senator Kamala Harris- and the decision is prompting reaction from both sides of the political aisle.

The Democratic National Committee praised the decision made by the Democratic candidate, saying that if the pair is elected, she will not only rebuild the economy and "restore the soul of our nation," but make history as the first woman, African-American and first Indian-American to serve as Vice President.

“Kamala Harris is an extraordinary leader. And she’s going to make an extraordinary vice president. Throughout her career, Senator Harris has championed working families and helped us build a better nation for all – no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, or how you pray. Through her service on the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, she has amassed the necessary experience to confront the biggest threats facing our nation at home and abroad. From fighting big oil, to taking on the gun lobby, to going after big banks, Kamala Harris is afraid of no one. Her leadership as California’s attorney general and in the U.S. Senate has made our country stronger. She shares the values of Joe Biden and Democrats across the country who want to rebuild our economy and restore the soul of our nation. And she will make history as the first woman, first African American, and first Indian American to serve as our nation’s vice president.

“Joe Biden approached this decision with the same care and sound judgement he’ll show as president. He knows Kamala Harris is ready for this job on day one, and he knows she has the empathy, experience, and character to lead. Just as importantly, Senator Harris will continue to show generations of young women, particularly young women of color, that there is no height to which they cannot aspire. Together, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are Donald Trump and Mike Pence’s worst nightmare. They are going to win this election, end this pandemic, and build a brighter future for all Americans.”

DNC Chair Tom Perez

The Republican National Committee appears to disagree with that stance, saying Harris takes extreme positions and would control Biden if he were to become president.

"A hiding, diminished, and incoherent Joe Biden didn’t just select a vice-presidential candidate, he chose the person who would actually be in charge the next four years if he is somehow able to win. Kamala Harris’ extreme positions, from raising taxes to abolishing private health insurance to comparing law enforcement officials to the KKK, show that the left-wing mob is controlling Biden’s candidacy, just like they would control him as president. These radical policies might be popular among liberals, but they are well outside the mainstream for most Americans."

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

The California GOP took a similar stance.

“Kamala Harris epitomizes the extremist far left. She has compared law enforcement to the KKK, wants to eliminate the private health insurance millions of families rely on and failed to keep California streets safe when it was her job to do so. Biden has chosen to cater to the far-left with this radical pick. In every single office she has held in San Francisco and statewide, Kamala Harris has failed Californians. Our nation deserves better than her out-of-touch radical policies.”

CA GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson

On the other hand, the California Democratic Party kept its message simple.

Some of California's elected officials shared praise for the decision as well. Gov. Gavin Newsom went as far as to call Harris the perfect choice.

At the national level, President Donald Trump said he was surprised by Biden's choice, saying Harris “was very disrespectful to Joe Biden” during the Democratic primaries, and said “it’s hard to pick somebody that’s that disrespectful.” He also brought up that she was initially a presidential candidate herself, but dropped out of the race because she was "doing very poorly."

For more information about registering to vote, finding a polling place and more, visit KION's Campaign 2020 page here. We will continue to provide updates on the candidates and issues as we move toward the November General Election.